Improved curtain-fixture



aient, @Wire A. n. KNAPE, or NEwToN CENTRE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters .Patent No. 90,366, dated May 25, 1869.

IMPRCVED CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

- of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

`making part of this specification- Fignre 1 being a front elevation of a set of' the improvedixtures, mounted with a curtain, or shade.

Figure 2, a plan of the base-plate of one of the brackets.

Figure 3, a side view of the right-hand, or main bracket, one of the halves, or parts ofthe case being removed.

Figure 4, a central'transverse vertical section of the same bracket.

Figure 5, an inside view ofthe bracket-knob.

Figure 6, a bottom view of one ofthe case-plates.

Figure 7, an upper-side view ofthe leftfhand bracket, (a portion of the case being broken away,) and central longitudinal section of the adjacent end ofthe curtainroller.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

My improvements are applied to adjustable, Selfbalancing fixtures, in which the curtain, or shade-bale ance is eiectcd by'means of a coiled spring, connected with the curtain-roller by a wheel and pinion, respectively, on the spring-shaft and roller-journal, and the adjustability of the balance is obtained by a ratchetwheel and detent connected with the spring-shaft gearwheel.

Therimprovements relate to various parts of the fixtures, and will be specified successively, and their ob ject and advantages explained. v

First, inthe construction of the brackets in which the curtain-rollers are mounted, and in which the operative parts of thextures are located. The righthand andy left-hand brackets are constructed nearly alike, and may be described as one, with the eXceptions to be mentionedin place.

The bracket is made in three piecesyof sheet-metal, (generally sheetbrass,) the base-plate A, and the two halves, or parts B C ofthe case. A

The base-plate A has, besides the holes fj, by which it is attached to the window-casing, several projections and depressions, formed by the die from the metal of the plate.

Near the middle is a projecting lip, or catch a, to hold the hook b, on the outer end of 'the coiled spring D, (belonging only to the right-hand bracket.)

There are also four, or other suitable number of lips c ce c, two near each side edge, to receive, 'respectively, hanches g g, turned in on the lower edges oi' the case-plates B (l.

Besides, there are two slight upward indentations d d, one near each side edge, inside of which the said case-plates, respectively, spring, and are thereby held in position, though the indentations do not prevent the removal of the case-plates, by the exertion of a little force.

The two case-plates, or halves BC, may be struck into the shape represented, or any other suitable one, with such ornamentation of form as maybe desired. Their lower edges are turned inward, at right angles, and thus ,form anches g g, which fit under the slightly-projecting lips c c of' the base-plate, as above set forth, toI secure them to the baseplate, and the inner edge h of one plate B fits and shuts over the adjacent edge t' of the other plate C, closely enough to unite them firmly and fixedly.

The bearings j j of these case-plates, in which the spring-shaft Gr and roller-journals H turn, are extended in surface much more than the thickness of the metal, by punching through the metal, and forc-V ing, the burr of metal displaced by the punch inward, in the form of a short tube, as shown. ,By this sirnple and inexpensive means, an excellent and durable bearing is produced, out of very thiu'sheet-metal. I

Next, for the springD, I employ a spring-holder, E,

which consists of ashort cylinder, or hoop, of metal,`

surrounding the spring, and thus always holding the spring within its bounds, whether woundup or not, or more or,1ess. It also has y(or may have, for it is not anecessary, though a desirable part of the springholder,) a head at 011e end, to keep the spring from contact` with the movements behind.

The outer end of the spring extends through an aperture in the holder, and is bent in .the form of a hook, as at l, figs. 3 and 4.

This spring-holder serves a fourfold purpose, namely,

first, of containing the spring within a circleof con- `stant'size, whether wound up or not, so that it cannot bear against the pinion-shaft, or roller-journal H, nor against the bracket-case; second, of keeping the springseparated from the cog-wheel and ratchet adjacent to it; third, of keeping the outer, hooked end b of the spring always in position to seize and hold against the catch a of the bracket, so that, however the spring may be inserted or situated, it never fails to take and keep its hold; fourth, of containing the spring in a compact position, after once manufacturing and putting in'sliape for packing to transport, and forv easily inserting in place in the bracket, or, iu case of removal thereii'om'at anytime, for readily reinserting.

The headand periphery of the spring-holder are generally made in two pieces, and separable, and one may be used'wthout the other.

A ratchet, s, and spring-detent c, are used, in connection with the cog-wheel J, so that the spring can be wound up, by turning the fixed knob I, on the end of the spring-shaft G.

The spring-case E and free hook end b of the spring,

in connection with the ratchet anddet'ent, allow a free adjustment ofthe force of the spring, to perfectly balance the curtain at any time, and there is no danger of any part getting out of position or order.

' f The knob I is struck out of sheet-metal, for cheapness, and to correspond in appearance with the other parts of the bracket. iIn order to give proper strength and rmness to the sheet-metal, it is made of cupshape, and its periphery is formed in corrugations, substantially as shown, and its central bearing la is formed into a short cylinder, by punching theI metal inward, as before described, for the bearings of the springshaft in the bracket-case. f

The left-hand bracket, lig. 7, consists of the baseplate A and side cases BC, similar to the-right-hand bracket. It contains only a sliding journal, N, ,for

that end of the curtain-roller L, and a (preferably` coiled) spring, r, for keeping the 'journal pressed fory ward into the .socket-bearing mot the roller,

' There is also a thu1nbpiece, or knob, p, attached l to the journal, and projecting outward through a slot, or opening in the bracket-case, so that when the roller is to be taken down 4or put` up, bypressing the said thumb-piece back, theI journal ismoved out ofthe roller-socket. f

\ Then, when the roller is put in position, on letting the thumb-piece free, the spring r forces the journal into the socket m, and holds it there.

In order to form durable and secure socket-bearings f in the ends of the curtain-roller L, socket-caps M. are

driven over these ends of 'the roller, there being a I rabbet, l, iig. 7, turned in the wood, of the-thickness of' the sheetfmetal of which the cap is formed, so that the surface of the metalv is flush with the surface of the roller.

The extended socket-bearing m of the cap is formed by punching the metal inward,.as before described, for the bearings of the bracket.

The socket to receive the journal 'of the right-hand bracket isv square, angular, or otherwise shaped, to receive a fitting form of thejournal, so that it will turn therewith. v

The socket and journal of the left-hand bracket are round.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure the base-plate A, and arranged in combination with the spring D, and its free or unattached'holder E, sube stantially as and/for the purpose herein set forth.

4. Also, the springlholder E, constructed substantially as described, in cdmbination with the spring, and applied fto the fixture, thereby serving the several purposes, as herein set forth.

5. Also, the knob I, when formed, of sheet-metal,

Ainto a hollow, or cup-shape, with peripheral' corrugations, for the purpose herein set forth.

6. Also, the left-hand bracket, having mounted in it the slidingjournal N, spring r, and projecting thumbpiece p, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. l

The above specification of my improvements in the construction of curtain-fixtures, signed by me, this 26th day of May, 1868.

A. H. KNABP. Witnesses: j

EDM. F. BROWN, J. S. BROWN. 

